Alex Rodriguez has been benched for Game 5 of the Division Series. / Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

by Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY Sports

by Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY Sports

Alex Rodriguez's epic playoff struggles compelled New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi to do what was once unthinkable: bench his $29 million third baseman.

Rodriguez will not start tonight's decisive Game 5 in the American League Division Series, the latest turn in what's been a running postseason soap opera for much of Rodriguez's nine-year stint with the Yankees.

Rodriguez is 2-for-16 with nine strikeouts in the series and has looked particularly bad in the most crucial spots, compelling Girardi to pinch-hit for him in Game 3 and Game 4 of the series.

He's 0-for-11 with nine strikeouts against Baltimore Orioles right-handers in this series.

What's more, Rodriguez's track record in decisive games is about as bad as it can get: 0-for-13 in his career as a Yankee, dating to Game 7 of the 2004 AL Championship Series.

Girardi could not weather such limitations in the late innings of an elimination game.

"I think he's just going through a difficult time," said Girardi, who said he made the decision at 1 p.m. on Friday and informed Rodriguez via telephone. "He's meant a lot to our organization. But he's struggled against right-handers in this series. So I made the decision to start Chavvy today."

Rodriguez sounded a tone of culpability in talking with reporters before Game 5.

"It's never about Joe," Rodriguez said. "I always have to look in the mirror. I've got to do what I can do, whatever I can do, to help the team.

"Don't assume that you've heard the last from us, or me."

Rodriguez has looked particularly bad against the Orioles' late-inning relievers, striking out three times against sidearming Baltimore set-up man Darren O'Day in three of the games. The Game 4 sequence was particularly crucial: O'Day fanned Rodriguez with the potential go-ahead runs on second and third, and the game dragged into extra innings, where Rodriguez was retired by Pedro Strop on a grounder in the 11th.

Chavez will start at third tonight, and bat ninth, with Robinson Cano in Rodriguez's typical third spot. Raul Ibanez gets the start at designated hitter with Derek Jeter able to return to shortstop after a foot injury.

It worked out fine in Game 3, when Ibanez struck a game-tying home run and an eventual walk-off shot. With Ibanez already used in the 13th inning of Wednesday's Game 4, Girardi benched A-Rod again in the key spot, pinch-hitting reserve third baseman Eric Chavez, who lined out to third to end the Orioles' 2-1 victory.

Girardi's action is the most drastic with Rodriguez in A-Rod's Yankee tenure. Former manager Joe Torre caused a considerable stir when he dropped a free-falling Rodriguez to eighth in Game 4 of the 2006 Division Series against the Detroit Tigers.

Now, Rodriguez will get his first look at playoff baseball from the bench.